Cannula button for surgical operations and method of use



I NOV. 25, 1947. I c, SCHNEEI 2,431,587

CANNULA BUTTON FOR SURGICAL OPERATIONS AND METHOD OF USE Filed Feb. 19, 1945 B Z INVENTOR.

ATToRNEX v Patented Nov. 25, 1947 CANNULA BUTTON FOR SURGICAL OPERA- TIONS AND METHOD OF USE Charles F. Schnee, Maspeth, N. Y.

Application February 19, 1945, Serial No. 578,627

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates generally to surgical instruments and methods and more particularly to a cannula button for use in removing excess fluid from the abdomen in cases of ascites.

Devices and methods have heretofore been used for this purpose but these have not proven entirely satisfactory. Some of them were temporary expedients used at the time of the operation or at best for a period while the patient was hospitalized. In others, a connection was made between the abdomen and a vein in the thigh of the leg but such connection soon clogged up or became broken.

A primary object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned defects and shortcomings of the present known devices and methods.

A further object is to provide a method and means for positively directing the excess liquid from the abdomen to a vein in the thigh, and so into the general circulation that it may be excreted through the kidneys.

Another object is to provide an improved device for forming a positive and rigid connection between the abdomen and a vein in the thigh.

Yet another object is to provide means for preventing the connection between the abdomen and the vein from becoming clogged up or broken.

Still another object is to provide means for facilitating fastening the abdominal wall and vein to the device.

A still further object is to provide such an instrument that is readily and easily mounted in position.

Another object is to provide an instrument of this kind that may remain permanently in the body without injury or deleterious results.

Another object is to provide such an instrument that is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description thereof to follow taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of the human abdomen showing one form of my improved cannula button in position in the wall of the abdomen and connected to a vein.

Figure 2 is a side view of the improved cannula button shown in Figure 1, parts being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a front view thereof.

Figure 4 is a rear View thereof.

Figure 5 is a side view of a modified form of cannula button.

The improved instrument is in the form of a cannula button I made of any suitable metal, a known metal alloy having the approximate composition of sixty-five percent cobalt, thirty percent (30%) chromium, and five percent (5%) molybdenum having been found in practice to be very satisfactory for this purpose, said alloy being non-corrosive and producing no reaction in living tissues when embedded therein. The form of button shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises a disc member 2 with a central opening 3. Secured to the periphery of the disc in any suitable manner and extending outwardly from one face thereof is a dome-shaped guard member 4 which as shown is preferably a hollow hemisphere. This guard member has a solid wall portion 5 at its apex, the remainder of the wall being formed with a plurality of perforations 6. A tubular shank or stem 1 extends laterally from the opposite face of the disc and has one end suitably fastened to the walls of the disc opening 3 and has its other free end 8 bent at right angles to the plane of the shank. A retaining bead or flange 9 may be formed on the outer free edge of the angular end 8.

The disc is provided with a number of openings I0 adjacent the periphery and a number of radially disposed eyelet members ll adjacent its central opening, three of such openings and eyelet members being shown, but any desired number may be provided.

The technique for using the improved cannula button is as follows:

An incision is made in the abdominal wall I8l2 into the peritoneal cavity I3 sufi'iciently large to permit the disc and dome-shaped guard member to be inserted into said cavity. The disc is then fastened to the wall by sutures l4 passing through the openings ID in the disc. The peritoneal incision is then closed by suturing its margins over the disc 2, permitting shank l to pass outward into the abdominal wall 11.

A vein in the thigh, such as the saphenous vein l5, having first been completely severed across at a point below its connection to the femoral vein [6 and its severed portion suitably closed, is stretched or threaded through the abdominal wall I1 under the skin 18 upwardly to a point above the femoral vein and to a point adjacent the incision in the abdominal wall. This stretched or reflected portion of the vein I5 is slipped or threaded over the tubular shank 1, for the entire length of said shank, and its end is then fastened to the eyelet members H by means of sutures l9.

The fluid in the peritoneal cavity will pass through the perforations in the dome-shaped guard into the tubular shank and saphenous vein I 5, finding an outlet in the femoral vein [6, The solid portion of the wall of said uard will guard off internal organs from coming up against the openings in the button.

In Figure 5 I have shown a modified form of cannula button in which the tubular shank 20 is arcuate-shaped instead of angular as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This hape facilitates threading of the vein It on to the shank. The shank 20 may also be longer than the shank 1 thereby making provision for abdominal walls of varying thickness.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have invented a new method and instrument for removing excess fluid which accumulates in the abdomen of patients suffering with various types member, said disc having a central opening communicating with the passage in the tubular member, and a dome-shaped guard member secured to said disc, said guard member having perforations communicating with the openings in the disc and tubular member, said disc having openings adjacent its periphery for suturing the abdominal Wall thereto, and said disc also having eyelet members adapted for fastening a vein of the human body to the disc,

CHARLES F. SCHNEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,863,057 Innes June 14, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 414,177 France Aug. 27, 1910 847,229 France Dec. 7, 1938 OTHER REFERENCES Commissioners Manuscript Decisions, vol, 24, page 349.

Vol. IIIOperative Surgery by Bickham, pages 843, 844 and 845. 

